Stapeliads Solved

[Sheffieldsurfer]

Hello everyone, i`m just wondering who the Stapeliad enthusiasts are.
Everyones been very welcoming and helpful since i joined, but i`ve not yet seen any people who are into the carrion flower family.
Can you reply if you own any of this amazing family, and i can meet you all.
I recently bid ?4.00 on a Huernia Macrocarpa on Ebay and won it, plus i`ve ordered some very rare Stapeliads from Westfield Cactus Nursery online. When i get them this week i will let you know what they are like.

[ChrisR]

Hi Lewis.........I get the impression you're new to succulents? As no one has answered you on this, I'll tell you what I know of Stap's. I don't grow them these days, but have done in years gone by. They can be strange and beautiful at the same time - but also not really beginners plants as a lot of them need extra winter heat and rot very easily if over-watered. In fact they often rot for no apparent reason at all ! Like all large groups though, one or two are easy to grow - Stapelia (Orbea) variegata being one you should try. As for Brachystelma.....they were imported a lot during the 70's & 80's but I've no idea if they are available these days. Again, I suspect most of these have died in cultivation. Have you done a Cactus Mall search to look for nurseries offerings Stapeliads?

Rgds, Chris Rodgerson - another Sheffielder.

[Sheffieldsurfer]

Hi, i`m relatively new to succulents, as i started when the winter gardens opened, but i`m not a newbie when it comes to Stapeliads as i`m a avid collector of the family. I now own several rarities, which i have successfully grown, and got to flower very successfully, though they smell bad, lol.
I`m really not looking for help in getting them and caring for them, i just want to meet other collectors of the family, as i think they are a specialist family, and not everyone is keen. Some like Lithops, others like Opuntias, but i wanted to find out who the Stapeliad collectors are.
Thanks for your advice anyway.
P.S Amazingly i`ve not yet killed any of my Stapeliads.

[Phil Hocking]

Hi Lewis

As you haven't killed any yet you must be our resident expert! There were some postings recently and some interest was shown but the prospect of a bad smell from the flowers seemed to discourage many. I have grown some in the past and don't recall any problem as you had to get quite close to the flower for it to be noticeable. Anyway, as I showed an interest Tina sent me some pieces of Stapelias insignis, ambigua, hirsuta and leendertziae, plus Piararanthus decorus. All are either growing or busy rooting. I am sure you could encourage a few more to start collecting them by posting some photos now and then. I would consider growing a few more especially if I knew advice was available for the more difficult ones. My favourite is Tavaresia barkleyi and I also like Hoodia and Huernia, but I haven't had much luck with them in the past.

Phil in Somerset

[Sheffieldsurfer]

All i do is sit them on my bedroom windowsill, or on the second shelf in my greenhouse, so they get light, but not scorched, and give them a tiny drink on a sunday, and they seem to flourish for me.
I`m going to learn how to post pictures, then i can show you my collection, i am very proud of.
I`m very excited about the Huernia Macrocarpa i bought flowering, but it`s only a tiny plant, so i have to wait a while yet. Sigh.
It`s a myth they really smell, because as you rightly say, the smell is only noticeable very close up.

[david_phil]

Well, I've grown them for over twenty years and won various prizes with them but even that doesn't mean that I'm an expert but I can help you where I can.
If you are starting out then the Stapelias and Huernias are a good starting point as most of the ones you can buy from nurseries are fairly easy to look after. The main thing is they need a little warmth in the winter. No less than 6 degrees min and dry, though the smaller ones do need a little water through the winter or they will shrivel up too much. The larger growing plants can have a richer compost where the slow growing ones need mostly sand. A long release fertilizer such as Calcified seaweed works for me. The Stapelias need good watering at this time of the year to keep the buds forming. One too many days dry and the buds will die too much and the stems can rot. I've got a Stapelia Nobis that is at least 25 years old and is still growing well and is flowering like mad! So give them a go! They are very rewarding plants when grown well. Apart from the smell of course!!!



Post Edited (08-13-06 11:03)

[ChrisR]

Is "ASKLEPIOS" still around? It was quite a popular societyand journal 20 years ago.......

[david_phil]

Yes. You can even join the Asclepiad Society still. Go here.
http://www.asclepiad-international.org/

[Cactus Jack]

Hi All, i have three Stapelia's ; Asterias; Nobilis; Vetula, i've managed to keep them alive for the last year or so but have not got them to flower yet. all advice welcomed...

[david_phil]

It depends on their ages. the smaller Stapelias don't flower from seed until they are 4 or 5 years old and the larger ones like Nobilis and Grandiflora can take up to 8 years before they flower. Give them a little liquid fertilizer if the grow seems slower than normal.